the adventure of the missing three-quarter-第3章

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house　of　Dr。　Leslie　Armstrong。　A　few　minutes　later；　we　had　stopped

at　a　large　mansion　on　the　busiest　thoroughfare。　We　were　shown　in；

and　after　a　long　wait　were　at　last　admitted　into　the

consulting…room；　where　we　found　the　doctor　seated　behind　his　table。

　　It　argues　the　degree　in　which　I　had　lost　touch　with　my　profession

that　the　name　of　Leslie　Armstrong　was　unknown　to　me。　Now　I　am　aware

that　he　is　not　only　one　of　the　heads　of　the　medical　school　of　the

university；　but　a　thinker　of　European　reputation　in　more　than　one

branch　of　science。　Yet　even　without　knowing　his　brilliant　record　one

could　not　fail　to　be　impressed　by　a　mere　glance　at　the　man；　the

square；　massive　face；　the　brooding　eyes　under　the　thatched　brows；

and　the　granite　moulding　of　the　inflexible　jaw。　A　man　of　deep

character；　a　man　with　an　alert　mind；　grim；　ascetic；　self…contained；

formidable…　so　I　read　Dr。　Leslie　Armstrong。　He　held　my　friend's　card

in　his　hand；　and　he　looked　up　with　no　very　pleased　expression　upon　his

dour　features。

　　〃I　have　heard　your　name；　Mr。　Sherlock　Holmes；　and　I　am　aware　of　your

profession…　one　of　which　I　by　no　means　approve。〃

　　〃In　that；　Doctor；　you　will　find　yourself　in　agreement　with　every

criminal　in　the　country；〃　said　my　friend；　quietly。

　　〃So　far　as　your　efforts　are　directed　towards　the　suppression　of

crime；　sir；　they　must　have　the　support　of　every　reasonable　member　of

the　community；　though　I　cannot　doubt　that　the　official　machinery　is

amply　sufficient　for　the　purpose。　Where　your　calling　is　more　open　to

criticism　is　when　you　pry　into　the　secrets　of　private　individuals；

when　you　rake　up　family　matters　which　are　better　hidden；　and　when

you　incidentally　waste　the　time　of　men　who　are　more　busy　than

yourself。　At　the　present　moment；　for　example；　I　should　be　writing　a

treatise　instead　of　conversing　with　you。〃

　　〃No　doubt；　Doctor；　and　yet　the　conversation　may　prove　more　important

than　the　treatise。　Incidentally；　I　may　tell　you　that　we　are　doing

the　reverse　of　what　you　very　justly　blame；　and　that　we　are

endeavouring　to　prevent　anything　like　public　exposure　of　private

matters　which　must　necessarily　follow　when　once　the　case　is　fairly

in　the　hands　of　the　official　police。　You　may　look　upon　me　simply　as　an

irregular　pioneer；　who　goes　in　front　of　the　regular　forces　of　the

country。　I　have　come　to　ask　you　about　Mr。　Godfrey　Staunton。〃

　　〃What　about　him？〃

　　〃You　know　him；　do　you　not？〃　　〃'He　is　an　intimate　friend　of　mine。〃

　　〃You　are　aware　that　he　has　disappeared？〃

　　〃Ah；　indeed！〃　There　was　no　change　of　expression　in　the　rugged

features　of　the　doctor。

　　〃He　left　his　hotel　last　night…　he　has　not　been　heard　of。〃

　　〃No　doubt　he　will　return。〃

　　〃To…morrow　is　the　'Varsity　football　match。〃

　　〃I　have　no　sympathy　with　these　childish　games。　The　young　man's

fate　interests　me　deeply；　since　I　know　him　and　like　him。　The

football　match　does　not　come　within　my　horizon　at　all。〃

　　〃I　claim　your　sympathy；　then；　in　my　investigation　of　Mr。

Staunton's　fate。　Do　you　know　where　he　is？〃

　　〃Certainly　not。〃

　　〃You　have　not　seen　him　since　yesterday？〃

　　〃No；　I　have　not。〃

　　〃Was　Mr。　Staunton　a　healthy　man？〃

　　〃Absolutely。〃

　　〃Did　you　ever　know　him　ill？〃

　　〃Never。〃

　　Holmes　popped　a　sheet　of　paper　before　the　doctor's　eyes。　〃Then

perhaps　you　will　explain　this　receipted　bill　for　thirteen　guineas；

paid　by　Mr。　Godfrey　Staunton　last　month　to　Dr。　Leslie　Armstrong；　of

Cambridge。　I　picked　it　out　from　among　the　papers　upon　his　desk。〃

　　The　doctor　flushed　with　anger。

　　〃I　do　not　feel　that　there　is　any　reason　why　I　should　render　an

explanation　to　you；　Mr。　Holmes。〃

　　Holmes　replaced　the　bill　in　his　notebook。　〃If　you　prefer　a　public

explanation；　it　must　come　sooner　or　later；〃　said　he。　〃I　have　already

told　you　that　I　can　hush　up　that　which　others　will　be　bound　to

publish；　and　you　would　really　be　wiser　to　take　me　into　your　complete

confidence。〃

　　〃I　know　nothing　about　it。〃

　　〃Did　you　hear　from　Mr。　Staunton　in　London？〃

　　〃Certainly　not。〃

　　〃Dear　me；　dear　me…　the　postoffice　again！〃　Holmes　sighed；　wearily。　〃A

most　urgent　telegram　was　dispatched　to　you　from　London　by　Godfrey

Staunton　at　six　fifteen　yesterday　evening…　a　telegram　which　is

undoubtedly　associated　with　his　disappearance…　and　yet　you　have　not

had　it。　It　is　most　culpable。　I　shall　certainly　go　down　to　the　office

here　and　register　a　complaint。〃

　　Dr。　Leslie　Armstrong　sprang　up　from　behind　his　desk；　and　his　dark

face　was　crimson　with　fury。

　　〃I'll　trouble　you　to　walk　out　of　my　house；　sir；〃　said　he。　〃You　can

tell　your　employer；　Lord　Mount…James；　that　I　do　not　wish　to　have

anything　to　do　either　with　him　or　with　his　agents。　No；　sir…　not

another　word！〃　He　rang　the　bell　furiously。　〃John；　show　these　gentlemen

out！〃　A　pompous　butler　ushered　us　severely　to　the　door；　and　we　found

ourselves　in　the　street。　Holmes　burst　out　laughing。

　　〃Dr。　Leslie　Armstrong　is　certainly　a　man　of　energy　and　character；〃

said　he。　〃I　have　not　seen　a　man　who；　if　he　turns　his　talents　that　way；

was　more　calculated　to　fill　the　gap　left　by　the　illustrious

Moriarty。　And　now；　my　poor　Watson；　here　we　are；　stranded　and

friendless　in　this　inhospitable　town；　which　we　cannot　leave　without

abandoning　our　case。　This　little　inn　just　opposite　Armstrong's　house

is　singularly　adapted　to　our　needs。　If　you　would　engage　a　front　room

and　purchase　the　necessaries　for　the　night；　I　may　have　time　to　make

a　few　inquiries。〃

　　These　few　inquiries　proved；　however；　to　be　a　more　lengthy　proceeding

than　Holmes　had　imagined；　for　he　did　not　return　to　the　inn　until

nearly　nine　o'clock。　He　was　pale　and　dejected；　stained　with　dust；

and　exhausted　with　hunger　and　fatigue。　A　cold　supper　was　ready　upon

the　table；　and　when　his　needs　were　satisfied　and　his　pipe　alight　he

was　ready　to　take　that　half　comic　and　wholly　philosophic　view　which

was　natural　to　him　when　his　affairs　were　going　awry。　The　sound　of

carriage　wheels　caused　him　to　rise　and　glance　out　of　the　window。　A

brougham　and　pair　of　grays；　under　the　glare　of　a　gas…lamp；　stood

before　the　doctor's　door。

　　〃It's　been　out　three　hours；〃　said　Holmes；　〃started　at　half…past　six；

and　here　it　is　back　again。　That　gives　a　radius　of　ten　or　twelve　miles；

and　he　does　it　once；　or　sometimes　twice；　a　day。〃

　　〃No　unusual　thing　for　a　doctor　in　practice。〃

　　〃But　Armstrong　is　not　really　a　doctor　in　practice。　He　is　a

lecturer　and　a　consultant；　but　he　does　not　care　for　general

practice；　which　distracts　him　from　his　literary　work。　Why；　then；

does　he　make　these　long　journeys；　which　must　be　exceedingly　irksome　to

him；　and　who　is　it　that　he　visits？〃

　　〃His　coachman…〃

　　〃My　dear　Watson；　can　you　doubt　that　it　was　to　him　that　I　first

applied？　I　do　not　know　whether　it　came　from　his　own　innate　depravity

or　from　the　promptings　of　his　master；　but　he　was　rude　enough　to　set

a　dog　at　me。　Neither　dog　nor　man　liked　the　look　of　my　stick；

however；　and　the　matter　fell　through。　Relations　were　strained　after

that；　and　further　inquiries　out　of　the　question。　All　that　I　have

learned　I　got　from　a　friendly　native　in　the　yard　of　our　own　inn。　It

was　he　who　told　me　of　the　doctor's　habits　and　of　his　daily　journey。　At

that　instant；　to　give　point　to　his　words；　the　carriage　came　round　to

the　door。〃

　　〃Could　you　not　follow　it？〃

　　〃Excellent；　Watson！　You　are　scintillating　this　evening。　The　idea　did

cross　my　mind。　There　is；　as　you　may　have　observed；　a　bicycle　shop　next

to　our　inn。　Into　this　I　rushed；　engaged　a　bicycle；　and　was　able　to　get

started　before　the　carriage　was　quite　out　of　sight。　I　rapidly　overtook

it；　and　then；　keeping　at　a　discreet　distance　of　a　hundred　yards　or　so；

I　followed　its　lights　until　we　were　clear　of　the　town。　We　had　got　well

out　on　the　country　road；　when　a　somewhat　mortifying　incident　occurred。

The　carriage　stopped；　the　doctor　alighted；　walked　swiftly　back　to

where　I　had　also　halted；　and　told　me　in　an　excellent　sardonic

fashion　that　he　feared　the　road　was　narrow；　and　that　he　hoped　his

carriage　did　not　impede　the　passage　of　my　bicycle。　Nothing　could

have　been　more　admirable　than　his　way　of　putting　it。　I　at　once　rode

past　the　carriage；　and；　keeping　to　the　main　road；　I　went　on　for　a

few　miles；　and　then　halted　in　a　convenient　place　to　see　if　the

carriage　passed。　There　was　no　sign　of　it；　however；　and　so　it　became

evident　that　it　had　turned　down　one　of　several　side　roads　which　I

had　observed。　I　rode　back；　but　again　saw　nothing　of　the　carriage；

and　now；　as　you　perceive；　it　has　returned　after　me。　Of　course；　I　had

at　the　outset　no　particular　reason　to　connect　these　journeys　with

the　disappearance　of　Godfrey　Staunton；　and　was　only　inclined　to

investigate　them　on　the　general　grounds　that　everything　which　concerns

Dr。　Armstrong　is　at　present　of　interest　to　us；　but；　now　that　I　find　he

keeps　so　keen　a　look…out　upon　anyone　who　may　follow　him　on　these

excursions；　the　affair　appears　more　important；　and　I　shall　not　be

satisfied　until　I　have　made　the　matter　clear。〃

　　〃We　can　follow　him　to…morrow。〃

　　〃Can　we？　It　is　not　so　easy　as　you　seem　to　think。　You　are　not

familiar　with　Cambridgeshire　scenery；　are　you？　It　does　not　lend　itself

to　concealment。　All　this　country　that　I　passed　over　to…night　is　as

flat　and　clean　as　the　palm　of　your　hand；　and　the　man　we　are

following　is　no　fool；　as　he　very　clearly　showed　to…night。　I　have　wired

to　Overton　to　let　us　know　any　fresh　London　developments　at　this

address；　and　in　the　meantime　we　can　only　concentrate　our　attention

upon　Dr。　Armstrong；　whose　name　the　obliging　young　lady　at　the　office

allowed　me　to　read　upon　the　counterfoil　of　Staunton's　urgent

message。　He　knows　where　the　young　man　is…　to　that　I'll　swear；　and　if

he　knows；　then　it　must　be　our　own　fault　if　we　cannot　manage　to　know

also。　At　present　it　must　be　admitted　that　the　odd　trick　is　in　his

possession；　and；　as　you　are　aware；　Watson；　it　is　not　my　habit　to　leave

the　game　in　that　condition。〃

　　And　yet　the　next　day　brought　us　no　nearer　to　the　solution　of　the

mystery。　A　note　was　handed　in　after　breakfast；　which　Holmes　passed

across　to　me　with　a　smile。



　　SIR　＇it　ran＇：

　　I　can　assure　you　that　you　are　wasting　your　time　in　dogging　my

movements。　I　have；　as　you　discovered　last　night；　a　window　at　the

back　of　my　brougham；　and　if　you　desire　a　twenty…mile　ride　which　will

lead　you　to　the　spot　from　which　you　started；　you　have　only　to　follow

me。　Meanwhile；　I　can　inform　you　that　no　spying　upon　me　can　in　any

way　help　Mr。　Godfrey　Staunton；　and　I　am　convinced　that　the　best

service　you　can　do　to　that　gentleman　is　to　return　at　once　to　London

and　to　report　to　your　employer　that　you　are　unable　to　trace　him。

Your　time　in　Cambridge　will　certainly　be　wasted。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Yours　faithfully；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　LESLIE　ARMSTRONG。



　　〃An　outspoken；　honest　antagonist　is　the　doctor；〃　said　Holmes。　〃Well；

well；　he　excites　my　curiosity；　and　I　must　really　know　before　I　leave

him。〃

　　〃His　carriage　is　at　his　door　now；〃　said　I。〃There　he　is　stepping　into

it。　I　saw　him　glance　up　at　our　window　as　he　did　so。　Suppose　I　try　my

luck　upon　the　bicycle？〃

　　〃No；　no；　my　dear　Watson！　With　a